Thread: need info on 429 build up

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I have a 67 Fairlane I bought minus motor and trans, I have bought a 429 motor with C6 trans. Now with the motor I think it is a middle to late 1970's motor, the air cleaner was marked 429-4V , the head casting is as follows D3VE A2A . What would be the cheapest way to get 425 HP at crank with this motor and keeping the heads that are on motor now, is this possible without breaking bank, if so what would I need to do this. Also anyone know someone that does port work and head work for BBF iron heads ,thanks Darrin

Paul Kane will probably see this and respond......he knows a lot about 429-460 engines. I can tell you from the numbers you have a 73 engine, which I think was the beginning of the low compression 429's, so a piston change will probably be in order. But like I said, Paul and some of the others too will know exactly what you need to do.

We had a '72 T Bird with a 429, and it made very good power.

Don

67429 Fairlane
you might consider aluminum heads, you can pick them up for a reasonable price and they will be ported to easily meet your hp needs. I am building a 460, and went with the smaller chambered Dove-c heads. I'm not shooting for as much hp as you are, but some of the older steel heads are redily availible for a reasonable cost. Paul is the guy though. He knows all there is to know about the 385 block series, and has helped me a bunch!

Originally Posted by 67429fairlane

I have a 67 Fairlane I bought minus motor and trans, I have bought a 429 motor with C6 trans. Now with the motor I think it is a middle to late 1970's motor, the air cleaner was marked 429-4V , the head casting is as follows D3VE A2A . What would be the cheapest way to get 425 HP at crank with this motor and keeping the heads that are on motor now, is this possible without breaking bank, if so what would I need to do this. Also anyone know someone that does port work and head work for BBF iron heads ,thanks Darrin

Darrin,

Although the parts you have are all capable of easily supporting 425 hp, unfortunately the 1973 429's combination of parts are all wrong and you have one of the least power producing 429s, so getting to that HP level requires several changes instead of just a few.

Your heads are about 97cc's and dished pistons about 22-24 cc's and are below deck. This leaves your particular engine with an emmisions-wheezing 7.5:1 compression ratio. A few options include:

• swap out the D3VE heads for a D0VE head and stud rocker valve train, thereby bringing compression ratio (c/r) to about 9:1, new camshaft and non-retarded timing chain...then the rest is just external bolt-ons to the long block (bigger carb, aluminum intake, etc.)
• Rebuild the shortblock with flat top pistons and deck the block 0.020", and c/r jumps to about 9:1, new camshaft and non-retarded timing chain. Then, port the D3VE heads, external bolt-ons as above
• 429's and 460's are 100% identical on any given year that they were both produced, except for the crank and pistons (even the connecting rods are the same), so I would probably rebuild the shortblock but install a 460 crankshaft and use 460 flat top pistons. With D3VE heads, c/r will be about 9.6:1. Then the new camshaft and non-retarded timing chain, external bolt-ons to the long block (bigger carb, aluminum intake, etc.)

Tell me which of the above bulleted ways looks the most interesting to you and I'll be happy to detail that particular option.

We port D0VE and D3VE heads all the time, if you're interested. Another well known, top notch iron 429/460 head porter is Scott Johnston at www.reincarnation-automotive.com

Paul
www.highflowdynamics.com

Paul where can I get these Dove heads fully assembled for my motor with whatever work will be needed for them to accomplish my goal, I am going to be running a hydraulic cam. Also how are the Pro Comp aluminum heads I see on ebay for $1,083 a pair for a 429-460 motor. Also will be running either Edelbrock Street master intake, or Edelbrock performer RPM intake, what size carb should be ran, thanks Darrin

Paul can do them or at the link above
http://www.reincarnation-automotive....nderheads.html

Originally Posted by 67429fairlane

Paul where can I get these Dove heads fully assembled for my motor with whatever work will be needed for them to accomplish my goal, I am going to be running a hydraulic cam. Also how are the Pro Comp aluminum heads I see on ebay for $1,083 a pair for a 429-460 motor. Also will be running either Edelbrock Street master intake, or Edelbrock performer RPM intake, what size carb should be ran, thanks Darrin

In short, the ProComp heads are little more than an aluminum D3VE head with an improved exhaust port. Further, after you purchase them they need a LOT of work in order to support any measurable/significant horsepower greater than the D3VE's.....so you will not have gained much ground for your $1083 (+ additional work) cylinder head "upgrade." <-----

For your particular situation, a budget ported pair of D0VE heads will do a hell of a lot more for less money than you invest overall in the ProCrap heads.

Call me for pricing, call Scott at Reincarnation Automotive, too. Scott and I are not only colleagues, we are good friends so please do not play us back-and-forth with a "quoting war." We both offer workmanship relative to our pricing.

Paul